Flannel vs Fleece

With cooler weather coming soon, my local fabric store is stocking up on flannels and fleece.  Seeing all those piles of patterns and colors made me wonder about the safety of flannel versus fleece for sewing sleepwear for my Bundles and Kiddles, so I decided to do some online investigating. 

First of all, the U.S. government has very defined laws about the construction of children's sleepwear. for the ages of 9 months to 14 years.  Find the details here. Basically the fabric must either not burn or melt, or it must extinguish itself, and the garment must be tight fitting.

These rules pose some problems for those of us who like to sew sleepwear and bedding for our Bundles and Kiddles.  Most of the flannel and fleece I find at local fabric shops clearly states, "Not intended for children's sleepwear".  Most of the patterns I find for the sleepwear garments I like to sew are designed to make roomy and comfortable pajamas and nightgowns.  What to do?

Shop for natural fibers.  Avoid man-made fibers such a polyester, which will melt.  Natural fibers are not fire-proof but are naturally fire-resistant.  I am not saying that you should defy the U.S. government. I'm saying that flame-retardant fabrics are hard to come by.  If you want to sew jammies for your little one, stick with cotton or wool.  It's not 100% safe to sleep in clothing made of natural fibers but it is a lot safer than man-made fibers.

So for fall, which should you choose?  Flannel or fleece?
Flannel can come in cotton/polyester blends so watch the content label.  Look for 100% cotton.  If you are concerned about chemicals, look closely to see if the fabric has been treated.
Fleece is almost always made of polyester so avoid it for sleepwear.

Finally, make the sleepwear as snug fitting as possible.  The US government also suggests that trims, such as lace, not extend more than 1/4 inch beyond the garment.  Watch the content label and choose natural fibers for those trims as well.

So, have fun sewing sleepwear for your Bundle or Kiddle, but do it with an eye to the flammability of the fabrics you choose.  We'd love to know what you do to sew safety-minded sleepwear.  Let us hear from you!